Olympic trampoline competition features individual events for men and women. Both begin with a qualifying round in which each gymnast performs two routines. In the first, gymnasts perform 10 elements but only two (designated by the gymnast) are considered for difficulty. In the second, all 10 elements are considered for difficulty. The scores from both routines are added together and the top eight competitors advance to the final round where they perform one routine with 10 elements for the medals.

Trampoline routines are planned to demonstrate a variety of forward and backward twisting and non-twisting elements. In all positions, the feet and legs should be kept together with feet and toes pointed.

The total score of each routine is the sum of four marks: the difficulty of the elements performed, the execution of those elements, the time of flight (time the athlete spends in the air), and the horizontal displacement of the athlete.

Two judges score the difficulty, starting at zero and adding to it as elements are performed, counting the number of somersaults and twists each one includes. Six judges score the execution, starting at 10 points and deducting up to 0.5 points for errors on each element. The two median marks are added together to arrive at the execution score for the routine. The Chair of the Judges’ Panel is responsible for controlling the electronic system that evaluates the time of the flight and the horizontal displacement on each element.

Canada’s Olympic History (Pre-Tokyo 2020)

Since the sport’s debut at Sydney 2000, Canada has won seven Olympic medals, highlighted by having a woman on the podium at the first five Games. Rosie MacLennan is Canada’s only Olympic gold medallist in trampoline, taking the title at London 2012 and again at Rio 2016. She made history at the latter, becoming the first trampolinist to win back-to-back Olympic gold medals. Her victory also made her the first Canadian woman to win two gold medals in an individual event at the summer Games and the first Canadian athlete to successfully defend an Olympic title at the summer Games. Karen Cockburn is the most decorated female trampolinist in the world with her three Olympic medals, two silver and one bronze. Her future husband Mathieu Turgeon also reached the podium in Sydney. Employing his “go big or go home philosophy”, Jason Burnett worked his way to a silver medal finish at Beijing 2008.